Foreign relations of North Macedonia
The foreign relations of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991 have been characterized by the country's efforts to gain membership in international organizations such as NATO and the European Union and to gain international recognition under its previous constitutional name, overshadowed by a long-standing, dead-locked dispute with neighboring Greece. Greek objections to the country's name had led to it being admitted to the United Nations and several other international fora only under the provisional designation Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until its official and erga omnes renaming to North Macedonia, a name under which it is now universally recognised.
Then US President George W. Bush with the political leaders of North Macedonia in 2008
The Vergina Sun, also known as the Star of Vergina, Vergina Star or Argead Star, is a rayed solar symbol first appearing in ancient Greek art of the period between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. The Vergina Sun proper has sixteen triangular rays, while comparable symbols of the same period variously have sixteen, twelve, eight or (rarely) six rays.
A relief sculpture depicting Helios with a rayed halo (Athena's temple, Ilion, early 4th century BC)
A hoplite with an eight-pointed sun on his left shoulder. Side A of an Ancient Greek Attic red-figure belly-amphora, 500–490 BC, from Vulci, Italy. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich, Germany.
A relief sculpture depicting Mithra with a radiate solar crown (Taq-e Bostan, ca. 4th century CE)
Achilles and Ajax playing a board game. Eight-pointed sun symbols are depicted on their cloaks. Amphora by Exekias, 6th century BC, Vatican Museum.
